Our previous studies have illustrated that CacyBP/SIP (Calcyclin-binding protein or Siah-1-interacting protein) promoted the proliferation of glioma cells. However, the possible mechanism still needs to be clarified. In the current study, we aimed to uncover the potential mechanism of CacyBP/SIP in regulating glioma cell proliferation. We found that CacyBP/SIP decreased the protein level of p53, but not the mRNA level of p53 in p53 mutant U251 cell line, whereas, in p53 wild-type U87 cell line, CacyBP/SIP neither promoted its proliferation nor regulated the changes of p53 p rotein. Further investigation indicated that CacyBP/SIP interacted with p53 and Mdm2 (Mouse double minute 2) to promote p53 ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome-mediated degradation in U251. Moreover, in the presence of Mdm2, CacyBP/SIP boosted the ubiquitination of p53 in a dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, inhibition of Mdm2 activity significantly increased the stability of p53. Finally, we found that the protein level of CacyBP/SIP and p53 is inversely correlated in p53 mutant human glioma tissues. These observations suggest an underlying mechanism that CacyBP/SIP promotes the degradation of p53 by enhancing Mdm2 E3 ligase activity, which reveals a novel pathway for the regulation of mutant p53 and provides a new therapeutic approach to target t he CacyBP/SIP-induced glioma cell proliferation. Key words: CacyBP/SIP; p53; Mdm2; glioma; tumorigenesis Glioma is the most common type of brain tumor with the median survival time of only 12 to 15 months, despite the significant improvements in neurosurgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy [1, 2]. The poor prognosis of glioma is largely attributed to the rapid growth and invasive/migratory nature of glioma cells. Therefore, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying glioma development and progression is critical to discover specific molecular targets that could be served as effective methods for glioma treatment.